[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 557 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 25, 2007.
Whereas Article II of Chapter I of the United Nations Charter states that 
        ``[t]he Organization is based on the principles of sovereign equality of 
        all its members'';
Whereas the former United Nations Human Rights Commission was widely discredited 
        for its incessant attacks against Israel and for granting membership to 
        Cuba, Zimbabwe, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries that were 
        notorious human rights violators;
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt a 
        resolution establishing the United Nations Human Rights Council, stating 
        that ``members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards 
        in the promotion and protection of human rights'';
Whereas the resolution also stated that ``the Council shall be responsible for 
        promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and 
        fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a 
        fair and equal manner'';
Whereas China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia are members of the United Nations Human 
        Rights Council;
Whereas in the past year that the United Nations Human Rights Council has been 
        in existence, the Council has held four special sessions to address 
        pressing human rights situations;
Whereas of the four special sessions, three sessions were held for purposes of 
        condemning Israel for alleged human right abuses in the West Bank and 
        Gaza Strip, and in Lebanon, and the fourth session was a non-
        condemnatory expression of ``concern'' regarding the situation in 
        Darfur, Sudan;
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council has failed to condemn serial 
        abusers of human rights throughout the world, including Iran, Syria, 
        North Korea, Cuba, China, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and others;
Whereas, on June 19, 2007, a Department of State spokesperson specifically 
        identified Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe, and Belarus as countries 
        that merit consideration by the United Nations Human Rights Council due 
        to their ``serious human rights violations'';
Whereas during its fifth special session, the United Nations Human Rights 
        Council voted to make Israel the only country permanently included on 
        its agenda; and
Whereas United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated he was 
        ``disappointed at the Council's decision to single out only one specific 
        regional item, given the range and scope of allegations of human rights 
        violations throughout the world'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly condemns the United Nations Human Rights Council for 
        ignoring severe human rights abuses in other countries, while choosing 
        to unfairly target the State of Israel;
            (2) strongly urges the United Nations Human Rights Council to remove 
        Israel from its permanent agenda;
            (3) strongly urges the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold 
        special sessions to address other countries in which human rights abuses 
        are being committed, adopt real reform as was intended for the Council 
        when it replaced the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and 
        reaffirm the principle of human dignity consistent with the original 
        intent envisioned at the Council's establishment;
            (4) strongly urges the United States to make every effort in the 
        United Nations General Assembly to ensure that the United Nations Human 
        Rights Council lives up to its mission to protect human rights around 
        the world, in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 
        60/251 establishing the Council; and
            (5) strongly urges the United States to work with the United Nations 
        General Assembly to ensure that only countries that have a well-
        established commitment to protecting human rights are chosen to serve on 
        the Council.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.